How to Choose a Board for Kneeboarding
There are basically two types of kneeboards - trick and slalom. Deciding which is best for you will help you have the best time possible when riding.
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Instructions
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Decide if you're primarily going to do tricks on your board, which involve spins, jumps and even flips, or if you'll be riding slalom, which is mostly cutting and jumping.
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Choose a board with a lot of rocker for trick riding. Rocker is the curvature of the board from nose to tail. Having a lot of rocker makes the board more forgiving of small errors and easier to recover from awkward positioning.
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Look for thick, well-rounded rails for your trick board. Rounded rails don't catch as easily and provide better flotation for lift when jumping the wake.
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Choose a slalom board that is relatively flat, with hard, narrow rails. This type of board will cut more easily and quickly than a trick board. It's more responsive to minute movement, and less forgiving of mistakes.
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Avoid fins on a trick board. Fins are a good option for beginners, as they make steering easier, but once you know how to use your rails to turn, fins are optional. Some boards offer retractable fins, which are good for instructional purposes.
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Realize that most kneeboards are roughly the same size, so your weight and size are only relevant in extreme conditions.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the board you choose has a good quality pad and knee strap.
You'll notice many different tail shapes on different kneeboards. These shapes affect the board in subtle ways that only expert kneeboarders need to be concerned with.
Always wear a life vest when kneeboarding.
